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Wanna Know Vote Counts?

I’ve been traveling all this week and haven’t kept up with the regular blogging I try to do here. Sorry to those of you who live for the gems that show up on this blog. (Anyone? Anyone?)

Congress is out this week, so it’s a good time to not pay attention to them and spend time on whatever else it is you like to do.

But I got an interesting request today - for the number of votes on a particular bill. We show the vote percentages, of course. But I don’t have access to a vote count even in our back-end system. (I could get it by paying my database guys to make it available to me.) When I’m curious about the number of votes, I often just vote on a bill myself and see whether/how much the vote percentages change. That gives me a rough idea, anyway.

Once in a while I’m contacted by an outraged visitor who is certain that the site is a fraud because a vote changed dramatically. The vote can change from 33%-67% to 82%-18% with just eight votes in the early-going. But, no, people think I set up this whole site and maintain it at great expense in time and money so I can skew the results on the “Prevention of Shag Carpet and Wood Paneling Act of 2009.” It’s pretty funny, actually (most of the time).

We do give each bill one vote on each side when it’s introduced. Those votes are fraudulent, I guess. Slap the cuffs on, officer.

So, do you care about the number of votes on bills? The one reason I’d be reluctant to publish it is that people who are new to the site and new to public policy might think there’s nothing going on if they look at the long tail of bills that generate no interest. I like people to get a real sense of excitement here on WashingtonWatch.com (Anyone? Anyone?) But we could always suppress the vote count until it reaches a certain number to solve that.

I predict a comment-count here of approximately zero. But maybe you’ll surprise me with your passion.

(0 comments | Categories: About WashingtonWatch.com » )

WashingtonWatch.com Digest - June 29, 2009

This is the WashingtonWatch.com email newsletter for the week of June 29, 2009. Subscribe here.

On the WashingtonWatch.com Blog

Congress is well into the process of passing the twelve bills that dictate federal government spending for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2009. We have produced a table to track the bills. See it in the blog post entitled: “FY 2010 Spending Tracker.”

Featured Items

The House and Senate are off this week for the July 4th holiday. They will return to work next week.

Last week, the House passed “cap-and-trade” legislation. H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, would limit the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted by electricity generation and other industrial production. The Environmental Protection Agency would issue allowances to emit those gases. Some allowances would be auctioned, and the remainder would be distributed at no charge.

Passage of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, would cost about $12,000 per U.S. family. The creation and allocation of renewable energy credits (by sale or giveaway) would be equivalent to a large tax on energy and industrial production, and spending of the tax funds.

The House also passed H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. The bill would spend about $335 per U.S. family on operations of the Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and similar agencies.

H.R. 2454
The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
Costs $12,161.50 per family

H.R. 2996
The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $334.62 per family

What People Think

Click here to vote on The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Click here to vote on The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
4% For, 96% Against

Vote on this Bill
Click here to vote on The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Click here to vote on The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
43% For, 57% Against

Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family.

New Items

H.R. 3081
Making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes
Costs $460.15 per family

H.R. 3082
Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes
Costs $1,238.48 per family

H.R. 1196
To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives to carry out a series of demonstration projects to promote the use of innovative technologies in reducing energy consumption and promoting energy efficiency and cost savings in the House of Representatives
Costs $0.22 per family

H.R. 2701
The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
Costs $6.15 per family

H.R. 2998
The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
Costs $12,193.57 per family

H.R. 1442
To provide for the sale of the Federal Government’s reversionary interest in approximately 60 acres of land in Salt Lake City, Utah, originally conveyed to the Mount Olivet Cemetery Association under the Act of January 23, 1909
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 1454
The Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2650
The Coast Guard Modernization Act of 2009
Costs $0.05 per family

H.R. 2652
The Maritime Safety Act of 2009
Costs $0.35 per family

H.R. 2996
The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $334.62 per family

H.R. 2997
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $1,101.66 per family

H.R. 2008
The Bonneville Unit Clean Hydropower Facilitation Act
Saves $0.06 per family

H.R. 2647
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
Costs $6,299.61 per family

S. 1233
The SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009
Costs $1.96 per family

H.R. 1275
The Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 962
The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009
Costs $40.77 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 2847
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $680.74 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 111-26
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12877 Broad Street in Sparta, Georgia, as the “Yvonne Ingram-Ephraim Post Office Building”

P.L. 111-27
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 300 East 3rd Street in Jamestown, New York, as the “Stan Lundine Post Office Building”

P.L. 111-28
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 West Main Street in McLain, Mississippi, as the “Major Ed W. Freeman Post Office”

P.L. 111-29
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3245 Latta Road in Rochester, New York, as the “Brian K. Schramm Post Office Building”

P.L. 111-30
The Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 Extension Act

P.L. 111-31
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
Costs $101.69 per family

P.L. 111-32
The Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009
Costs $920.79 per family

WashingtonWatch.com P.O. Box 77576 Washington, D.C. 20013

(0 comments | Categories: The Week Ahead » )

FY 2010 Spending Tracker

Congress is well into the process of passing the twelve spending bills that dictate federal government spending for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2009.

We’ve produced a table to track the House and Senate bills, their costs, and votes on them, as well as votes on final passage of the compromise bill that becomes law.

It started with passage of the congressional budget resolution in late April, which set overall spending targets at about $29,000 per U.S. family.

We will update this table as new bills are introduced and votes are taken in the House and Senate.

Spending Bill
House Bill
Senate Bill
Final Votes
Public Law
Bill
Cost*
Vote (Y-N)
Bill
Cost*
Vote (Y-N)
House (Y-N)
Senate (Y-N)
Budget Resolution
$29,000
$29,000
Agriculture
$1,100
              
Commerce/Justice/Science
$680
    
$680†
        
Defense                  
Energy & Water                  
Financial Services                  
Homeland Security
$460
$460
        
Interior and Environment
$330
            
Labor/HHS/Education                  
Legislative Branch
$38
$33
        
Military/Veterans
$1,200
              
State/Foreign Operations
$460
              
Transportation/HUD                  

* Cost per average-sized U.S. family; amounts are approximate; changes in interest rates alter net present value calculation
† Reflects Senate action on House bill

(1 comment | Categories: Appropriations/Budget » )

Not a Typo: Energy Bill Would Cost $12,000 per U.S. Family

As I was updating the WashingtonWatch.com Twitter feed just now, I felt obligated to point out a non-typo: H.R. 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act would cost about $12,000 per U.S. family.

It’s being debated on the House floor right now.

(That doesn’t mean you should necessarily be for it or against. Just aware of it.)

(5 comments | Categories: Energy » )

Appropriations Update

Over the weekend we reported on the annual spending process getting into full swing. Well, it’s keepin’ on swingin’!

As I write the House is debating H.R. 2892, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010. That bill spends about $450 per U.S. family on running the DHS.

The House has already passed H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science spending bill. ($680 per U.S. family)

And the Department of Interior bill, H.R. 2996, is slated for this week too. It was just introduced Tuesday. It will spend about $330 per U.S. family.

Introduced and on the near horizon, Legislative Branch spending ($38.00) and the Agriculture Department (H.R. 2997 - $1,100).

You don’t have to just sit there staring at your computer, y’know!

The number for the Capitol operator is 202-224-3121. Call your Member of Congress and tell him or her whether it’s all too much, not enough, or just right!

And tell a friend too. Email ‘em this page!

(0 comments | Categories: Appropriations/Budget » )

Editing the Wiki - Tobacco Control Edition

Here’s a very nice example of an advocate using the wiki function to make his or her case about a bill.

H.R. 1676, the PACT Act, would prevent tobacco smuggling and ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, according to its authors.

But a WashingtonWatch.com user points out in the wiki article for the bill, “Honest, law-abiding online tobacco companies would suffer financially, and many people would” - well, you can read it for yourself. Go to the page for the bill and click “view article” or “read more.”

Log in yourself (with an account you create here), and you can edit the article further to refine the points there, or offer fair counter-arguments.

(0 comments | Categories: About WashingtonWatch.com, Advocacy, Commerce » )

More Bills on the House Floor This Week

Here are some more of the bills going to the House floor this week:

H.R. 934 - To convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged land

H.R. 1275 - Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act of 2009

H.R. 1129 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide an annual grant to facilitate an iron working training program for Native Americans

H.R. 762 - To validate final patent number 27-2005-0081

H.R. 1945 - Tule River Tribe Water Development Act

S. 407 - Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009

H.R. 1172 - To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors

H.R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009

H.R. 1211 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act

H.R. 1511 - Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009 H.R. 1752 - To provide that the usual day for paying salaries in or under the House of Representatives may be established by regulations of the Committee on House Administration

(0 comments | Categories: The Week Ahead » )

WashingtonWatch.com Digest - June 22, 2009

This is the WashingtonWatch.com email newsletter for the week of June 22, 2009. Subscribe here.

On the WashingtonWatch.com Blog

Last week, Congress passed H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009, and it now goes to the president for his signature. The bill, which spends about $920 per U.S. family on military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, got some interesting add-ons on its way through Congress. Read about it in a post called “Congress Passes War Spending Bill.”

(forward to a friend)

Featured Items

Last week, the House passed H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

The bill would spend money to support the operations of the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, and various science-related agencies like NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Passage of H.R. 2847, would cost about $680 per U.S. family.

This week, the House will consider H.R. 2892, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010.

H.R. 2892 would spend about $460 per U.S. family on running the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal 2010.

The House will also debate H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.

The bill would authorize spending for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, and it would prescribe military personnel strengths for the coming fiscal year.

No cost estimate is available for the bill, but the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 authorized just under $5,000 per U.S. family in spending.

H.R. 2847
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $684.75 per family

H.R. 2892
The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $458.33 per family

H.R. 2647
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010

What People Think

Click here to vote on The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Click here to vote on The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
13% For, 87% Against

Vote on this Bill
Click here to vote on The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010. Click here to vote on The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010.

The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010
50% For, 50% Against

Vote on this Bill
Click here to vote on The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Click here to vote on The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
50% For, 50% Against

Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family.

New Items

H.R. 934
To convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 423
The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009
Costs $1,465.52 per family

S. 469
A bill to amend chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, to modify the computation for part-time service under the Civil Service Retirement System
Costs $0.28 per family

S. 629
The Part-Time Reemployment of Annuitants Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2728
The William Orton Law Library Improvement and Modernization Act
Costs $0.03 per family

S. 1294
An original bill making appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes
Costs $32.84 per family

S. 1298
An original bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes
Costs $461.77 per family

H.R. 509
The Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2009
Costs $0.20 per family

H.R. 1172
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2751
The Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act
Costs $38.63 per family

H.R. 2918
The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $38.00 per family

H.R. 556
The Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act
Costs $0.17 per family

S. 327
The Improving Assistance to Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims Act of 2009
Costs $0.18 per family

S. 380
The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act
Costs $0.07 per family

H.R. 1016
The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009
Costs $1,561.96 per family

H.R. 1037
The Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009
Costs $0.40 per family

H.R. 1211
The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act
Costs $1.38 per family

S. 669
The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2180
To amend title 38, United States Code, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service
Saves $0.01 per family

H.R. 2510
The Absentee Ballot Track, Receive, and Confirm Act
Costs $0.17 per family

H.R. 2892
The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $458.33 per family

S. 212
The Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act
Costs $0.17 per family

H.R. 1752
To provide that the usual day for paying salaries in or under the House of Representatives may be established by regulations of the Committee on House Administration
Costs $0.02 per family

H.R. 1604
The Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2847
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $684.75 per family

Updated Items

none

Passed Items

none

WashingtonWatch.com P.O. Box 77576 Washington, D.C. 20013

(0 comments | Categories: The Week Ahead » )

FY 2010 Spending Under Way

The nitty-gritty of the fiscal year 2010 spending process is getting under way. By the beginning of the new fiscal year October 1st, Congress is supposed to pass twelve appropriations bills, spending the money in the U.S. treasury on all the operations of the government for the year.

Last week, the House passed the H.R. 2847, the Commerce/Justice/Science spending bill. It spends about $680 per U.S. family on operations of the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, and science-related agencies like NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Bills to fund the Department of Homeland Security have been introduced in both the House and Senate. The House bill, H.R. 2892, and the Senate bill, S. 1298, would both spend about $460 per U.S. family to fund the department.

And bills to fund the legislative branch - Congress itself - have also been introduced in both houses of Congress. The House bill - H.R. 2918 - spends about $38 per U.S. family on the operations of Congress. The Senate bill, S. 1294, comes in at about $33.

As you can see from the budget process timetable, Congress is well behind on the annual spending bills - the House Appropriations Committee was supposed to have reported all the spending bills by June 10th, and the House is supposed to finish work on all the bills by the end of the month. But it’s still ahead of schedule compared to other recent Congresses.

(1 comment | Categories: Appropriations/Budget, Commerce, Homeland Security, Justice » )

Congress Passes War Spending Bill

Both the House and Senate have passed identical versions of H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009. It now goes to the president for his signature. The bill spends about $920 per U.S. family.

This bill is mostly to fund war spending, but, as the AP reports, it “also branches off to provide money for programs ranging from pandemic flu preparedness to a ‘cash for clunkers’ initiative to encourage drivers to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles.”

Like one of these:

(1 comment | Categories: Appropriations/Budget, Defense » )
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